Lost Girl, Lost Boy
Chapter Twenty-Five
Inside the storm cellar…
Rumple was once again sitting upon the stool inside his prison, spinning the straw his captor provided him with into gold, while the villain was even more focused on trying to keep his link into Captain Hook's mind so that he could watch his enemy's torment. The villains' progress to break the pirate was slow, but it was working swimmingly, or at least it was until Gold felt an unexpected presence within Hook's mind, then saw the real Savior appear and knew that she and her family had somehow figured out a way to help him.
Finally, Zelena walked down after she returned from her trip into town for her little spectacle as she spoke up saying smugly, "That was more fun than I imagined it would be. The looks of fear on all of their faces was quite priceless. If only you could have been there. I think that you… Is there something wrong, Rumple? The look on your face isn't that of immense pleasure like I should be seeing as you're watching your old enemy suffer."
Gold glared up at her through the cage bars as he answered, "That's because something has changed. We have underestimated the heroes once again, thinking that they wouldn't be brave enough to do what it takes to try to save Hook."
"What?" she asked in contempt. "You assured me that this plan of yours would work perfectly. You said that there was nothing they could do for him once my lovely little curse became enacted."
"Yes, well it appears that Miss. Swan cares for Hook more than I believed she did," the Dark One responded even more coldly than before. "I can sense her presence inside his mind, as she is linked to him just as I am."
The witch scowled and replied, "I don't understand it. I know how much that pirate loves her, but according to my pets, Captain Hook is very much under the impression that she does not reciprocate his feelings and I have seen nothing in the few days she's returned to make me believe otherwise. She obviously considers him a friend. I saw that much for myself last night when I attacked him, but to risk her own life… to risk leaving her son and a town who need her knowing full well that she will die if she fails to reach Hook…"
Gold stood from where he sat and stopped the spinning wheel as he answered, "You don't know the Savior as I do, Zelena. I may have failed to remember how close she and Hook had become while together in Neverland, but she is also stubborn and does whatever it takes to save the lives of her family and friends, even a complete stranger because she is the Savior and it's her nature to fight evil whether she wants to or not."
"So what exactly do you suggest we do then?" she asked curtly. "I'm not ready to reveal myself to these heroes just yet, but the Captain has to pay for bringing her back here. And she needs to know exactly what I am willing to do in order to get what I want. We have to stop her."
"Well dearie, might I suggest a different approach?" Rumpelstiltskin responded smugly. "I think we might actually be able to make this work to our advantage. You want the Savior gone and so far have unsuccessful. You forget, it is his mind she has entered and therefore his pain has now become hers as well. So long as he continues to suffer, so will she and if he dies…"
Zelena finished for him, "Then Emma will die as well. That's brilliant! You really are a genius, Rumple."
Gold nodded and then replied, "Perhaps, but I suggest you go and have another chat with the other ally you've brought here with you from the Enchanted Forest, aside from those monstrosities you call your pets. We may yet need him for another one of his flowers. A little reinforcement never hurts."
Back in the Enchanted Forest…
"This shuriken as you call it, I've seen blades very similar to this, but as you thought, it isn't the weapon itself that's the problem, but some kind of potion it has been soaked in," Regina said with concern as she held the throwing star in front of her face once again after David and Robin gently lifted Hook from off of the travois still being held by the dwarfs, then carefully laid him back down upon a bed within one of the castle's many extra rooms. "I'm sure of it. Just don't ask me to explain how I know it."
"Okay, but is that a problem?" Snow asked worryingly once almost everyone had left the Queen and their Princess to tend to their friend, except for Charming and Grumpy who both wanted to stay with them in case there was anything they needed. "There has to be some kind of potion you can make that can counteract whatever ingredients are in that one."
David scoffed in frustration as he ran his hand over the top of his head, then glared over at Regina and answered, "Let me guess, it's not that simple. Am I right?"
Regina looked at the Prince with surprise at his audacity as she responded, "Yes, that's what I was about to say. I wish I could say otherwise, but not only is it going to take time for me to figure out exactly what this potion is created with, it will also take time for me to make the antidote so that I'll be able to heal it. Even if Tinker Bell can get back here with the Blue Fairy in time to help me, to help us… I doubt Hook has that kind of time left. I will do what I can for him, but his chances of survival isn't good."
"Damn it!" David cried angrily as he slammed his fists down against the bottom of the bed where he stood and leaned down, then turned his head to look over at the man who got hurt protecting him, while his wife wrapped her arms around him. "Hook survived for hundreds of years sailing oceans and traveling between worlds, as he fought against Rumpelstiltskin, Pan, and the Evil Queen. Now you're telling me he's going to die because he felt obligated to save my life, when it's me who still owes him for saving me the last time?"
"No David," Snow replied sadly. "He didn't do this out of any obligation. He did it because he cares about all of us, and because he loves our daughter, even though she doesn't feel the same way about him in return. He knows that she needs her parents when we one day make it back to her, just like she needed us in Neverland too. You of all people know how it feels to have to do whatever you can for those you love, even when it's bad for your health. Remember, you trusted me about Regina having it in her to be good no matter how many times she proved me wrong, but look at us now. The Evil Queen has become our friend at last."
Regina immediately retorted, "I wouldn't exactly go that far just yet, but at least I don't want to kill you both anymore. At least not on most days. Come with me to where I keep most of my magic that doesn't come from myself. I'll need your help."
The Prince looked between the women as he stated, "The two of you go. I'm going to stay here and keep an eye on Hook. Grumpy, you're welcome to do whatever you need to do. If I can't save his life, the least I can do is try to make him more comfortable beforehand."
A few of the Queen's soldiers walked in caring a basin filled with fresh water and plenty of clean rags, then left the room again to stand guard outside of the door, while Grumpy remained with David hoping to help out however he could. Neither man spoke for several minutes as Charming pulled back the black shirt that covered Hook's wound again, then began his administrations.
"I'm staying here to help," Leroy spoke up to break the silence. "You're not the only one the pirate saved today you know. I owe him as much as you do. Don't worry, I'm sure that they'll be something that they can do. Hook survived going up against the Dark One a thousand times. Surely he can beat this too."
Hours passed and within that time, Grumpy left the room to talk amongst the rest of his brothers while they ate. David stayed with Hook to watch over him despite there being men outside the door to make sure no one could break in, in case George were to be crazy enough to send his men against them again. What he didn't expect was for the King to send his assassin to finish what he had been hired to do.
"I'm impressed by the Queen's security around her castle," an unfamiliar voice called out suddenly as he appeared upon the window across the room and jumped down from the sill onto the floor, while David immediately pulled his sword to defend himself and Hook against the unknown enemy. "Unfortunately, she didn't think it necessary to put a protection spell on the windows of this place."
The Prince stood between the man and his friend as he asked coolly, "Who the hell are you? Or let me guess, you're the man my father hired to try to kill me, aren't you?"
The Hun soldier chortled and then answered, "So, your pirate friend knew more than I expected and he managed to tell you about me. I knew working for this King was a mistake, but I needed what he was able to offer me at the time, just as I need what I'm demanding from him now for finishing the task."
"Guards!" David shouted as the soldiers swiftly pushed through the doors and charged inside toward their Prince's assailant until the assassin suddenly pulled a single blue flower from his belt as the pouch that was hanging from the sash to fall to the floor when its ties became loose, then blew the flower's pollen into their faces, causing them both to collapse to the floor unconscious. "No! What did you do?"
"The same thing I'm going to do to you," Shan Yu responded and was about to blow the blue dust toward David as well until green smoke immediately surrounded him as he vanished, while the Wicked Witch appeared in his place.
Zelena smiled as she said smugly, "So sorry to interrupt. But at least doing so just saved your life and quite possibly the pirate's as well. I really do want to see you all dead, but this isn't how I planned it. Enjoy the reprieve."
Snow suddenly ran into the room as the witch quickly disappeared, followed closely by Grumpy, Robin, and Regina, as the Princess cried out fearfully, "David, are you alright? What happened?"
"I'm fine, but the guards…" he replied nervously as Robin bent down to check on them.
"They're alive, but their breathing is irregular," the archer answered nervously.
Regina looked around the room as she asked, "What the hell happened? We heard your cry for help and came running to find my men out cold and both you and Captain Guyliner just as you were."
David walked over to the pouch that had fallen on the ground before the killer disappeared and looked inside, then pulled out a vile of liquid and smiled as he responded, "I'm not really sure, but I think we might have just had a little bit of luck, thanks to your sister."
"I don't understand," Snow replied in confusion as David handed the Queen the vile, then held it up to examine it. "What is that?"
"Something my father's assassin dropped before Zelena whisked him away," David answered anxiously. "When a killer deals with poisons, or potions in this case, they usually carry an antidote with them just in case they themselves become infected by it. I don't believe this assassin is any different."
Regina looked at the Prince and spoke up saying, "I think you might be right. We may have just gotten lucky."
David looked back at Hook, then stated, "I hope so."